FREYMING-MERLEBACH, FRANCE Theatre Théodore Gouvy

The theatre Dominique Coulon & associés carried out at Freyming-Merlebach, France, starts a formal dialogue with the varied urban landscape and it models itself on the context and regarding the logic of the existing flows. Its unusual shape and its dimensions give it a special aspect. Its lines ensure a visual transition among the various parts of the programme, keeping the same dimensions of the urban context. The visitor’s attention is captured by the dynamism of volumes: in the upper part, the foyer overhangs to show the entrance while in the lower part the transparent elements allow the rich interior paths to be half seen. The foyer occupies a vertical space, with a network of staircases leading to the auditorium. The slanting lines follow the complex geometry of the site and they ensure that the spaces expand. The auditorium contrasts with the neutral surfaces of the external envelope. The building has a lily-white façade while the foyer shows some beige shades. The 700-seat auditorium, instead, is characterised by red, pink and orange shades. The colours confirm the idea of a show.